Facilitators

Colin Salisbury

Colin Salisbury, Founder and CEO of Global Volunteer Network (GVN), is the social entrepreneur behind one of the most widely recognized international volunteer service organizations in the world.

When Colin was 17 years old he travelled to a remote village in Papua New Guinea and was heartsick when he met an entire village of malnourished children. Years later an idea bloomed- why not start a volunteer service organization that places volunteers in communities around the world? The volunteers would provide man power and funds to community organizations so they could assist children like those he had met in Papua New Guinea. Working out of his spare bedroom in 2002, Colin and his wife Jo placed 240 international volunteers in communities around the world. In 2007 GVN placed almost 2000 volunteers in 20 countries.

In the same year, GVN was propelled into the spotlight when Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and leading philanthropist, suggested GVN as a first port of call for young people wanting to make a difference in the world (Newsweek 10/10/07). Colin was also invited by the United Nations to participate in their Economic and Social Council High-Level Segment in Geneva to debate poverty issues.

In 2005 Colin Co-Founded the GVN Foundation. The GVN Foundation is a separate, but closely related nonprofit organization that raises funds for communities GVN Volunteers work in. Since 2005 the GVN Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to build orphanages, schools, help feed kids and rebuild areas affected by natural disasters or political unrest. Salisbury himself has summated Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp and Machu Picchu as part of GVN Treks to raise money for orphaned children in developing countries.

When Colin is not starting extremely successful social enterprises he is spending time with the three most important women in his life; his wife Jo and his two daughters Kate and Emily.

Colin has an incredible sense of humor, a taste for fine wine, an adventurous spirit and is adored by his staff.

Colin's Social Entrepreneur Mantra:

"Figure it Out (FIO)"

Colin likes to remind his staff that in social enterprises (like GVN) you need to FIO.

Courtney Montague

Courtney Montague is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of GVN Foundation. The nonprofit organization that raises money for communities GVN volunteers work in. After Courtney finished college years ago, she travelled to New Zealand to work as an intern for Colin and was responsible for fundraising for GVN for a few years. Inspired by his infectious enthusiasm and belief that 'one person really can change the world' Courtney returned to her homeland (Denver, Colorado) and Co-Founded the GVN Foundation with Colin.

In just three short years GVN Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for children living in poverty around the world. In the second year of running, GVN Foundation's fundraiser/campaign 'Eat So They Can' is motivating thousands of people around the world to learn about how to end child poverty while raising tens of thousands of dollars for children's programs in Africa.

GVN Foundation has built two schools, one orphanage and is currently raising funds for a third. GVN Foundation has also provided food to thousands of political refugees, rebuilt homes destroyed by typhoons, and funded life saving surgeries for children.

Courtney loves her work and thinks her staff are incredible. Courtney has also hiked the 'trilogy' (Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp) to raise funds for orphaned children.

Courtney's Social Entrepreneur Mantra:

"Courage is being scared to death...and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne.

Being a woman adverse to any 'sporty' or 'outdoorsy' activity, this was Courtney's mantra hiking to Everest Base Camp.

Lauren McMahon

Lauren McMahon is the Media and Communications Coordinator for GVN and GVN Foundation. Lauren landed in New Zealand mid March 2007 after a little hop-skip-jump from Melbourne, Australia, to take up a media internship with GVN. After falling in love with the magical country and its people she decided to stay permanently and now calls NZ home (but don't tell her mum!).

Lauren's background is largely in public relations and communications and she has worked for both the private and public sectors. Prior to moving to Wellington, she spent three years at Sustainability Victoria, a State Government Environmental Agency. During this time Lauren worked on a number of recycling, energy saving, sustainability, and anti-littering campaigns.

Lauren has also worked in a fruit shop, a newsroom, and dabbled in advertising but she claims her people skills developed during university when she worked part time in restaurants and bars. "If you can communicate effectively to a patron in a bar at 3am in the morning explaining why they should go home you can communicate to anyone!"

Lauren's philosophy in life is pretty simple, she believes in taking care of the environment, taking care of your wellbeing and taking care of each other. She is happiest when she is climbing mountains, spending time with friends, and seeing people live a fulfilling life with a big smile on their face.

Earlier this year, Lauren bagged Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa as part of GVN's Fundraising Trek and is thinking about her next adventure.

Lauren's Social Entrepreneur Mantra:

"Launch the jump then figure the landing" � my adventurous friend, Josh Crosbie.

Nadine McNeil

Nadine McNeil, a Jamaican author and humanitarian, is an evolving work in progress. Professionally, she is a compassionate and sensitive individual with extensive experience working for the United Nations in a variety of operational roles. In June 2008 she completed a 3-year assignment in Indonesia as UNICEF's Head Logistics Specialist in response to the 2004 Tsunami where millions of lives were lost and entire villages displaced.

She joined the United Nations in 1986 and worked in Headquarters New York prior to her first overseas assignment to Kuwait, where she arrived 13 days after the cessation of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In retrospect, she now realises after 20 years of UN service that she was destined to be a global citizen. This is the driving force behind her lifelong commitment and contributions to transforming the world, as we know it. Nadine leads her life according to a simple philosophy: Any change that we envision must begin with self.

In addition to her professional career at the United Nations, Nadine McNeil is the founder of the Jamaica Reads Foundation (JRF), which was launched in Jamaica in 2002. JRF collects books and reading material for orphanages and women's prisons in Jamaica. During its inaugural year, JRF donated in excess of 2000 books to institutions in Jamaica. Nadine's passion lies in her writing; a communicative tool that she finds healing as well as cathartic. A creative non-fiction writer, much of her story telling is born through her experiences as a lifelong international civil servant, bearing witness to events and their harrowing impact on marginalized human lives. She asserts, 'healing occurs when we share our stories. It is through sharing that we [re]discover that we're never alone.' Writing up her experiences is her way of sharing with others.

A budding 'yogini,' much of her inspiration and ideas for her work are born on her yoga mat, especially when lying in savasana (dead pose). In stillness, Nadine speaks volumes.

Nadine's Social Entrepreneur Mantra:

"Your life could change at any moment. You just have to be there." (Unknown)